Question 1Steam Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is C) fuel/air ratio knob. To achieve near-perfect combustion in a boiler, the key is to precisely control the fuel/air ratio. The fuel/air ratio knob allows the operator to manually adjust this ratio, fine-tuning the combustion to reach the optimal balance between fuel and air. This direct control over the fuel/air mixture is crucial for making the final adjustments to bring the combustion as close to perfect as possible. The other options are incorrect because they do not provide the same level of direct control over the fuel/air ratio. Adjusting the forced draft fan dampers (A) or air volume regulators (B) would affect the air supply but not the fuel, while adjusting the fuel oil back pressure (D) would only impact the fuel side without affecting the air.